plate no. 3420

Staraya Russa

Boris Kustodiev, 1921

oilRealismcityscapebuildingstreesstreetskyfigureshouses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and using broken color to create texture and depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and street, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point.
step 03
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of color.
step 04
Start building up layers of color, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Use broken color and short brushstrokes to create texture in the trees and ground.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features.
step 07
Refine the sky and add subtle color variations.
step 08
Add the figures and other small details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · viridian

Mix various shades of yellow ochre and burnt umber for the buildings and street. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and add touches of viridian for the foliage.

techniques